Timmy U

Sox already have to find innings to ramp up 16 guys to starters in Spring. I have no idea why they would do this. Oh well, add it to the 99% of reality that I get no say in.

Crochet’s a bad example. The league adjusted to his slider after like 5 starts last year and he started to get hit. He then worked with both Katz and Bannister to change his arsenal, including adding a cutter to work both sides of the plate and took off again. When it comes to pitch shapes and developing attack plans for pitchers, coaching does matter. That’s why pitching labs aren’t just a radar gun and a box of balls.

I just don't know what else Getz is supposed to do. He very well may be a terrible GM, but given the crater left when the last rebuild failed so spectacularly and the structural mess that was the Sox org, whoever tried to step in faced a humongous project. I would have preferred Theo Epstein or someone like that, but so far Getz is making a lot of solid moves structurally. Everyone here knows how much I despised the Vargas trade from the second it was announced, but other than that, it's been about what you'd expect.

Walker was the Sox first pick (Comp round overall 47) who was a huge surprise when selected from a Utah CC. Literally no one thought he was a first rounder but Kenny saw him play one game and came away convinced. Centerfield tools, could run pretty well, but couldn't really hit. I believe these days he's like a fireman or a paramedic or something. Not his fault that Kenny drafted him that high, but kind of symptomatic of how the Sox weren't like other orgs in a bad way.

And yet, to baseball purists, every roster combo will be somewhat offensive.

I wonder if they’ll give Gallo Mike Moustakas’ old locker,

I wish nothing but the best for Eloy, but it's really gonna hurt if he hits 40 bombs.

Agree 100%. Plus, you got guys like Carela and Gowens in AA while we all know that Schultz and Smith will have guaranteed opportunities and Taylor could be right behind them. I would love to see what we have in this wave of prospects this year, given the fact the Sox will lose >100 games this year no matter what veterans they sign.

If they start trading guys like Burke with less than a year of service time, you're really looking at an endless rebuild. My issue with pitching depth is similar to getting even more second basemen -- there are not slots for them in the minors. If they get high-upside A-ball guys, great. Mid-rotation AA guys would be of no use because Birm and W-S are jam-packed right now. I am team Hold Robert to the Bitter End. You feel otherwise. I respect your opinion and you may be right. I just feel like they need to start getting players who project as 4+ WAR guys or they are going to suck forever.

With the limits on total players and the depth of the Sox system right now, I'm not sure that a couple 40+/45 players are that much better than nothing. If you get Tibbs, with the depth of the W-S OF, he likely plays 1b/dh. The last thing they need is depth starting pitching. I think the only upside play is keeping Robert. Best case scenario, he is capable of down ballot MVP votes. If you can't get at least one player whose FV is in that tier, I don't think the downside risk is that great.

If you can't even get Tibbs for Robert, why the hell would you trade him? Tibbs is a a bat-first player who may have to move to 1b who did not hit in his pro debut. Jordan scares the bejeezus out of me. There's not a lot in that system that I'd want. I'd take Josuar Gonzalez, but that's about it. There is almost no upside there.

My general feeling is bleah. But I actually want to watch Robert play some before they decide to lean even further into the suckitude. I thought the 121 loss season would have taught them not to sign a bunch of washed up vets on their last contracts. Guess I was wrong. But Taylor can also play LF against lefties to spare Benintendi the humiliation., so there’s that.

The Barons crushed him in my one look, so I may not be as high on him as others, but is it wrong that his hair is a dealbreaker for me? You got a first round bonus. Spring for some conditioner.

I feel bad for Bush as he is a young father and this year was a great opportunity for him. A year from now, he may be staring up at Schultz and Smith in the rotation and earning a shot would be that much harder. At least it explains why a guy who looked so good in AA could look how he did in the majors. Best of luck to him and his family.

That’s like Scott Merkin’s opinion, man.

Why would we be happy that we didn’t start his big league clock if he sucks? The only reason to regret starting his clock is if he’s really good. Oscar Colas’ lock is started and absolutely no one cares.

That’s a good potential list. Thanks for doing it. Would be shocked if Neyens makes it to them. My top realistic guys are Willits and Gamble. I think some model team is gonna pop Willits ridiculously high. Hope I’m wrong.

I think I’d like it better with Jim Callis’ adjustment: You should have to move up/stay even to get penalized. The A’s got boned in the draft, especially in 2023, and now pick 11th. Just does not seem fair.

LaViolette is gonna be so gone because of the bogus new draft rules. Definitely a future National or Angel. Makes me sad.

Gamble is a guy that I could see the Sox either popping at 1-10 or, more likely, trying to float down to 2-1 with an over slot bonus. Midwest kid, stays in the middle of the field w/upside. Thanks for sharing.

Acknowledged. Have you seen the young man play?

I love it because all the players were described as “off limits.” That is pretty much the Orioles story. The next high-profile guy they trade will be the first high-profile guy they trade. They need to learn to pump and dump prospects a la the Dodgers and Yankees.

I’m just curious, who on this board has watched Zavala play? I have and he’s decent in center. Deceptively fast. Real question with him is syncing up the swing. If he does, he’ll walk a lot, above average power, stolen bases and a good arm. If he doesn’t, he’ll never get out of AA. Probably the 3rd best outfield prospect in a system with very few legit outfielders. Personally, I am rooting for him.

I think Rojas at 3b, Sosa at 2b, Vargas at dh, filling in at 3b/1b. Probably Baldwin at ss, but I could see Colson at ss with Baldwin getting right-handed at bats in lf, and 3b and left handed at bats at 2b, 1b, and maybe cf. Rojas is so good defensively at 3b, they would be crazy to play anyone else there.

I think this list is defensible even if I don’t see it the same way. He is not wish-casting on guys like Wolkow and Bonemer. He’s waiting for them to prove it. Clearly, he sees Jacob Gonzalez as a high-floor lefty hitter who stays at short. The disagreement points to a lot of depth in the system right now. Sox have 20 or so guys who would normally be in their top ten, so it is nothing but good.